I vow to be true to the name of Namor, which means "avenging son"! I shall never rest till the insolent human race has paid for its crimes against our people! Now rise, and pledge me your hearts, your hands, your lives!

Namor has finally found the lost people of Atlantis and is reunited with his lover Lady Dorma, much to the displeasure of Warlord Krang. While on the surface world, the Thing and Human Torch are on another childish rampage through the Baxter Building, once the spat is sorted out it's suggested that perhaps a vacation is in order.

Wanting to check out reports of giant sea creatures, Reed suggests a cruise, however when gigantic aquatic specimens show themselves, the FF are captured by Namor when they go to investigate. Namor demands that the FF deliver a message to the United Nations that the seas and the air above belong to the nation of Atlantis. Seeking an audience at the United Nations, after hearing the origins of Homo Mermani and the origins of Namor from Professor G.W. Falton, Reed informs the Nations that Namor is a menace.

Falton reveals himself to be Namor in disguise, and declares war on the surface world. Sending an army to attack New York City, the FF's first attempt at fighting back the invading Atlantians fails. However, Reed builds a device which causes the water in the warriors helmets to evaporate forcing a retreat. Attacking the FF directly, Namor kidnaps Sue and takes her aboard his ship. While the FF is fighting Namor for Sue's freedom, Warlord Krang and Lady Dorma attempt to drown Sue, prompting Namor to rescue her. Needing immediate medical attention, Namor swims Sue to shore and brings her to a hospital.

The FF meeting up with him there, Namor calls off his attack against the surface world for the time being and returns to the oceans depths. However, Atlantis is deserted as Krang has convinced the Atlanteans that their sovereign, for saving the surface woman, is a traitor. Namor is alone again.

A retelling of Spider-Man's first encounter with the Fantastic Four from Amazing Spider-Man #1, this version extends the fight and interaction between Spider-Man and the FF. The feature ends as Spider-Man leaves the Baxter Building following his rejection for membership in the group.

This story is a reprint of the comicFantastic Four #1.For a full synopsis, please see the comic linked in this message box. Any new or updated information can and should be added to this page. Otherwise, the majority of the information contained on this page is similar to that of the comic linked in this message box.

Notes

Continuity Notes

Sub-Mariner Versus the Human Race!

This story starts off with Namor having already found his lost people. Saga of the Sub-Mariner #7 fills the gap between Namor's last appearance in Fantastic Four #14 and this Annual. It explains that following the destruction of Atlantis in the 1950s (per Sub-Mariner #1) the people of Atlantis became roaming nomads and eventually settled in a new kingdom under the rule of Emperor Thakorr's step-son Byrrah. When Namor found his people, Byrrah was forced to surrender the throne to Namor.

Although it was implied that Namor lived in Atlantis in Sub-Mariner Comics #31, this story clarifies this fact.

This is one of many retellings of Namor's origins, which was originally mentioned in Marvel Comics #1 in 1939. The first depiction of Namor's origins was in Sub-Mariner Comics #32 establishing the romance between Namor's parents Princess Fen and Leonard McKenzie. This story was expanded in greater detail in Saga of the Sub-Mariner #1.

Although Lady Dorma first appeared back in Marvel Comics #1 this is the first time it has been established that she had a romantic interest with Namor.

This is the first time the Atlanteans have been depicted in their trademark blue skin. In all Timely and Atlas era comics, male members of the Atlantean race had green scaly skin, large eyes and catfish like barbels under their noses. Females had Caucasian skin, but also had larger eyes and some fish-like features. To date there is no explanation given as to this aesthetic change, however the majority of flashbacks to prior eras also depict Atlanteans as having blue skin and none of the fish-like features.

The appearance of Nikita Khrushchev in this story should be considered a topical reference per the Sliding Timescale of Earth-616.

The Fabulous Fantastic Four Meet Spider-Man!

Questions and Answers

This page states that Reed Richard's hair is graying at the temples due to the horrors he endured fighting the Nazis during World War II. However per the Sliding Timescale of Earth-616, the fact that Reed Richards fought in World War II has been retconned from his personal history as it prematurely ages the character. Reed has previously stated he fought in World War II alongside Nick Fury in Fantastic Four #21 and is depicted as a member of the OSS in Sgt Fury and his Howling Commandos #3. To date these appearances have not been officially explained.

The schematics of the Baxter Building are expanded here from their original presentation in Fantastic Four #3. Expanding the original four story plan to six.